Opposition grows against Bageshwar Baba’s Pune event over his Sant Tukaram remarks

“There should be no permission for such a big event to be organised by someone who comes to Maharashtra and disrespects Sant Tukaram or spreads superstitious beliefs,” said Datta Pol, Maharashtra president of the outfit.

A Divya Darbar and Hanuman Katha, where Shastri will interact with the public, have been organised from Monday to Wednesday in Pune.

The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an organisation fighting against superstition, has sent a letter to the commissioner of police and issued a press release opposing any superstitious claims that it said could be made at the event. “We have never opposed religion or religious events but when unscientific claims are made or superstitions fuelled from such programmes, we oppose them… The solutions that he (Shastri) is giving people have no scientific basis. So there is no possibility of solving problems and instead, people are suffering physical, mental and financial loss due to wrong remedies,” it stated.

Shripal Lalwani of the Samiti told The Indian Express, “We work to raise awareness among the public about any superstitious claims that are made. We have urged the authorities to take action if anything is said in violation of the anti-superstition and witchcraft laws of our country.”